Britta leaned her head into her hands, obviously troubled.

Susie looked at her lovingly, having cared deeply for her ever since that day she first held her as a tiny infant, with Mamma sitting nearby. “Sister, have ya thought, just maybe, that God brought you to us for a reason?” she asked quietly. “That He planned for you to be raised Plain?”

Removing her hands from her face, Britta brightened slightly. “I can’t help but wonder.”

Susie was encouraged. “What if you could honor Him by starting baptismal classes next year?”

Britta’s eyes grew wider. “Join church early, ya mean?”

“If that’s what you intend to do eventually, why wait?” Susie asked, not wanting to pressure her even though it was her greatest desire to somehow keep Britta safely in the Amish church, living and working among the People.

Britta’s face clouded again. “Oh, Susie,” she said gloomily, “I honestly don’t know how to tell Hazel, or even Roy . . . if we’re still friends once I’m courting age, that is.”

Susie reached her hand across the table for Britta’s. “I believe Hazel will always be your friend. As for Roy, if he cares for ya, he’ll listen with his heart.”

Britta nodded slowly, her eyes glimmering.

“None of us chooses the family we’re born into.” Susie breathed a prayer before slowly continuing. “When all’s said and done, our hearts have more to do with us bein’ Amish, and I think both Hazel and Roy would agree with that.”

Later, as they cleared the table and began to wash the dishes, Susie felt she should not tell Britta about Allen’s plan to rent out the house just yet. This is more than enough for one evening, she thought, glancing at Britta wiping dishes with the hen-and-chicks tea towel Mamma had finished embroidering before she left for Missouri.

Susie rinsed the next plate with hot water and stacked it on the dish rack. She and Britta had worked together so well all these years, even when little Britta would push a chair up to the counter to dry dishes.

Glancing at her now, Susie hated the idea that she and Britta might have to live apart till Britta was ready to marry. The thought made Susie feel almost ill.

CHAPTER
37

Over the course of the next day, Susie and Britta talked more about Kathleen Stratton and how amazing it was that she’d willingly relinquished her baby . . . and of Mamma’s loving generosity toward her and little Britta. They discussed it during breakfast and while redding up the kitchen, and later, while shoveling snow and working together in the stable. And all the while, despite this tender time with Britta, Susie tried not to feel disappointment that this would be their first Christmas without Mamma home—and their last Christmas in this wonderful house.

When should I tell Britta of Allen’s plans?